Device for closing a hatch or the like

ABSTRACT

A hatch construction comprising a plurality of interconnected cover sections tiltable in an upright stowing position in a stowage space adjacent to the hatch, the endmost cover section, which is remotest from said stowage space, being automotive, stationary chain means loosely extending alongside the hatch and stowage space and secured to a fixed point at each end thereof to engage a driving pulley provided on said automotive cover section and at least on loose guiding pulley supported by the rotary shaft of said driving pulley, said chain means passing between said pulleys and embracing them at least partially.

United States Patent 1151 3,

Kummerman 1451 July 25, 1972 54] DEVICE FOR CLOSING A HATCH 0R 2,788,849 4/1957 Lingard ..160/201 THE LIKE 2,853,131 9/1958 Kummerman.. ...l60/188 72 I 2,879,058 3/1959 Phillips ..l60/l88 nventor. Henri Kummerman, Geneva, Switzerland 3 092 0 5 19 3 Kummerman U 1 0 1 X A ig M G g C i S.A. DvAv y, Pelfler l France 3,183,874 5/1965 Barlow..... ..160/188 X 3,240,484 3/1966 Klamp ..49/358 X [22] Flled: Dec. 12, 1969 Prima Examiner-Peter M. Caun 21 A 1. .1 1 PP No 884,469 Attorney-Kenyon & Kenyon Reilly Carr & Chapin [30] Foreign Application Priority Data [57] ABSTRACT Dec. 13, 1968 France 178124 A hatch construction comprising a plurality of interconnected cover sections tiltable in an upright stowing position in a [52] 11.8. C1 ..160/l88 stowage Space adjacent the hatch the endmos' cover 51 Int. Cl. ..E05f /18,E05f 15/00 which is remmesi from Said 8 P being 58 Field of Search ..160/188, 201; tommive, Stationary Chain means Y extending almgside 49/197400, 358, 360 the hatch and stowage space and secured to a fixed point at each end thereof to engage a driving pulley provided on said 56] References Cited automotive cover section and at least on loose guiding pulley supported by the rotary shaft of said driving pulley, said chain UNITED STATES PATENTS means passing between said pulleys and embracing them at l t art 11 2,703,236 3/1955 Verdier ..49/l99 X eas p la y 2,771,136 11/1956 Lecomte "160/188 2 Claims, 25 Drawing figures z z 31 i 1 24 12 26 1 I m g 23 "l l 51x 1 ii i 7 r en 6* I 1 A \L /1 c- 71 2o 6 i 1 x .r 11

Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,985

9 Shoots-Sheet 1 INVENTOF? HENRI KUMMEPMAN Patented July 25, 1912 3,678,985

9 Sheets-Sheet 3 /N VENTOL? HENFP/ KUMMEAMfl/V Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,985

9 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN vE N TOR HENRI KUMMERMAN Patented July 25, 1972 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 A r TORNE. vs

Patentd July 25, 1972 3,678,985

9 Sheets-Sheet 6 /N \/E NT OF? HENR/ KUMMERMHN ,4 TTOFWYE )6 Patgnted July 25, 1972 MF-l H /N VE N TOR M m Q M Patented July 25, 1972 3,678,985

9 She'ets-Sheet 8 /N vE/vToQ HENFW MUM MERMAN r4 TT'O PA EVS Patented July 25, 1972 9 Sheets-Sheet 9 gm av za w DEVICE FOR CLOSING A HATCH OR THE LIKE The present invention concerns and has essentially for its object a device for closing a ships hatch or a like access aperture of a rolling vehicle, a building or stationary construction, as well as the various applications and uses resulting from the working thereof and the systems, assemblies, mechanisms, constructions, equipments and installations provided therewith.

Hatch closing devices are already known which are of the type comprising at least one movable, preferably rolling, panel composed of several panel elements interconnected by flexible or hinged links and at least some of which are adapted to be individually swung successively to a vertical position, for instance by gravity by means of lateral tipping rollers cooperating with corresponding ramps for tight stowage in open position in a stowage space adjacent to one end of the hatch, the endmost panel element, remote from the said stowage space, being a self-acting panel element.

.T he purpose of the invention is to improve the closing devices of the aforesaid type and the device according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises on one and preferably on either longitudinal side of the said hatch, a flexible, stationary, catenary or filiform member, such as a chain or the like forming a driving path, extending loosely along the said hatch and the said stowage space, the said chain or the like being attached to a fixed point at each end and cooperating with a driving pulley or a driving gear wheel of the said self-acting panel element and with at least one loose guiding pulley, supported by the rotary shaft of the said driving pulley, the said chain passing between the said driving pulley and each guiding pulley and at least partially embracing them, while the said self-acting panel element is also adapted to be swung to a vertical position.

The invention will be better understood and other objects, characteristics, details and advantages thereof will appear as the following explanatory description proceeds with reference to the appended diagrammatic drawings given solely by way of example illustrating several forms of embodiment of the invention and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary external side-elevational view of a hatch equipped with a closing device according to a first form t of embodiment of the invention, with the panel elements shown in their vertical stowed or open position in the stowage space;

FIGS. 20 and 2b are two complementary views similar to the preceding one and showing the hatch panel in horizontal closed position;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary, partially sectional top view of one side of the panel elements of FIG. 1 stowed in vertical position;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken upon the line IV-IV of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 5 is an external side-elevational view, to a smaller scale, of a hatch equipped with a closing device according to a second form of embodiment of the invention, the panel elements being shown in their horizontal position closing the hatch;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary top view of the hatch of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a separate view of the hatch panel in longitudinal section taken upon the line VII-VII OF FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is an external lateral elevational view of a hatch equipped with a closing device according to a third form of embodiment of the invention, the hatch panel being shown in horizontal closed position;

FIG. 9 is an external end view of the left-hand end of the hatch shown in FIG. 8;

FIG. 10 is an external lateral fragmentary view, partly broken away, of the right-hand end of the hatch of FIG. 8, with the panel elements stowed in upstanding open position in the stowage space;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary sectional half-view taken upon the line XI-Xl of FIG. 8, showing one half of the self-acting panel element;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional half-view taken upon the line XII-XII of FIG. 13, showing one half of an intermediate panel element;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view, in particular of the hatch panel of FIG. 8 in closed position;

FIG. 14 is an external lateral view, at a larger scale, of the driving system on one side of the self-acting panel element in its horizontal rolling position, according to the arrow F of FIG. 1

FIG. 15 is a view similar to the preceding one, wherein the self-acting panel element is shown in lowered closed position;

FIG. 16 is a top view of the said driving system;

FIG. 17 is a fragmentary half-sectional view of the said driving system taken upon the sectional line XVII-XVII of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary sectional view taken upon the line XVIII-XVIII of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is an external lateral elevational view, at a smaller scale, of a hatch equipped with a closing device according to a fourth form of embodiment of the invention, with the panel in horizontal closed position shown in solid lines;

FIG. 20 is a top view of the hatch of FIG. 19, with the panel elements stowed in vertical open position;

FIG. 21 is an external fragmentary side view with parts broken away in section taken the line XXI-XXI of FIG. 23, of the self-acting panel element, showing in a very simplified manner only the portion thereof equipped with the device according to the invention, all other unnecessary details being omitted, the said panel element being in a hatch-covering horizontal position in the vicinity of its final closing position at the corresponding end of the hatch;

FIG. 22 is a separate fragmentary view from above of the self-acting panel element, showing only the portion of one longitudinal side thereof, equipped with the device according to the invention, the protecting hood of the latter being omitted:

FIG. 23 is a cross-sectional fragmentary view taken the line XXIII-XXIII of FIG. 21, of one longitudinal side of the hatch and of the self-acting panel element; and

FIG. 24 is a cross-sectional fragmentary view upon the line XXIV-XXIV of FIG. 21, showing the corresponding lateral portion of the separate self-acting panel element.

According to the example of embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the hatch l is adapted to be closed by a panel 2 composed of several panel elements, for instance three, four or five in number, adapted to roll in horizontal position by means of wheels 6 over the coaming 7 and guided by a longitudinal guiding bar 8 secured to the coaming all along the latter. The panel element may be separately swung and stowed in vertical position in a stowage space 9 adjacent to one end of the hatch. To this end, each panel element is provided in its intermediate portion with a transverse pair of lateral tipping rollers 10 adapted to cooperate on either sidewith a corresponding ramp 11 on which the tipping rollers may roll, so that in its vertical stowed position each panel element is suspended from its tipping rollers.

The panels elements are interconnected for instance by chains 12 whose ends are advantageously respectively pivotally mounted on the projecting free ends of the pins of the tipping rollers 10. Each panel element is equipped with a single transverse pair of lateral rolling wheels 6 disposed near its end which, in horizontal closed position, is nearest to the stowage space 9; in its horizontal closed position each panel element, except the front end panel element 3 bears upon the adjacent end of the preceding adjacent panel element in the direction of the closing motion. The rolling wheels 6 are for instance provided with eccentric hubs, so as to enable the panel elements to be sealingly lowered onto the hatch edge to their horizontal closed position, by making the deformable seals 13 of the panels rest upon the sealing ribs 14 of the coaming.

The front end panel element 3 in the direction of the closing motion is a self-acting panel element, i.e. it is provided on either side with a driving motor-reducer set 15 comprising for instance an electric motor 16 coupled to a speed reducer 17 whose output shaft 18 drives a driving wheel 19 ensuring independent displacement of the panel element 3. The two motorreducer sets are controlled synchronously and supplied with electric energy through a flexible electric cable 20 of sufficient length to allow for complete maximum play and displacement of the self-acting panel element, the said cable being connected at one end to a fixed power point 21 provided on the hatch coaming and at the other end to a movable power point 22 provided on the panel element 3.

The shafts 18 are substantially coaxial and each driving wheel 19 meshes with a flexible driving path advantageously constituted by a fixed chain or the like 23 provided on either side of the hatch and extending with a certain amount of slack along the longitudinal edge of the hatch and of the stowage space and attached at one end to a fixed point 24 of the hatch edge, located substantially at the level of the rolling path 7, and at the other end to a fixed point 25 located in the vicinity of the external end (or left-hand end in FIG. 1) of the stowage space 9, preferably higher than the ramp 11. The driving wheel 19 is advantageously constituted by a chain or pitched pulley or the like meshing with the chain 23. In order to compel the chain to embrace a sufficient arc on the driving pulley 19 there is provided a loose or idler guiding pulley 26 carried by an oscillating lever or the like 27 composed of two arms and mounted so as to freely pivot about an intermediate point on the shaft 18 of the driving pulley 19. The guiding pulley 26 is advantageously carried by the arm of the lever 27 which is directed towards the fixed point 24 of the chain remote from the stowage space 9.

In the present example, each chain 23 is located internally with respect to the corresponding adjacent ramp 11 and, as shown in particular in FIGS. 2a and 4, passes above the panel fittings, such as the rolling wheels 6 and the tipping rollers 10, owing to the lack of available space. The arm of the oscillating lever 27 opposite the arm carrying the guiding pulley 26, that is to say the one which is directed towards the stowage space 9 carries a stop or the like 28 adapted, as shown in particular in FIGS. 1 to 3, to come into contact with the corresponding tipping ramp 11 at least at the beginning of the closing motion of the self-acting panel element 3 in order to prevent the rotation of the oscillating lever in counter-clockwise direction in FIG. 1, a rotation which otherwise would be caused by the reactive torque exerted by the chain 23 upon the oscillating lever 27.

The arm of the oscillating lever 27, carrying the guiding pulley 26, is continued by an end portion 29 the lower edge 30 of which is advantageously rounded and which is adapted to come into bearing contact for instance with the rolling path 7 at the end of the closing motion of the panel in order to locally support the self-acting panel element 3 which, before being lowered to rest upon its seal 14, is thus supported at the rear by its pair of wheels 6 and at the front by the end portion 29 of the oscillating lever. Adjustable or displaceable stop means are provided on the one hand for retaining each oscillating lever unilaterally in the angular position of bearing contact of its end arm portion 29 with the rolling path 7, against the reactive torque exerted by the associated chain, and on the other hand for enabling selective raising of the said end arm portion at the time of local lowering of the self-acting panel element 3 into sealing engagement with the hatch edge. The said stop means are advantageously constituted either by a cam or an eccentric such as 31 or by a lever or the like controlled selectively, for instance by manually rotating it, and mounted on the self-acting panel element 3 above the end arm portion 29 in closed position of the panel element 3.

The operation of these adjustable stop means is very simple: when the driving panel element 3 is stowed in its vertical position shown in FIG. 1 the cam 31 is directed angularly so that when during its closing motion the panel element 3 swings to its horizontal position, it is the profiled cam portion remotest from the axis of rotation of the cam that will come into contact with the top of the end arm portion 27 so as to bear upon the corresponding arm of the lever 27 downwardly. Thus, at the as possible nearer to the rolling paths 7 and on the other hand.

to rotate each cam 31 so as to make the arm portion 29 of the oscillating lever come into contact with the profiled cam portion nearest to the axis of rotation of the cam, as shown in FIG. 212, thus automatically causing the corresponding arm of the lever 27 to rise through the action of the tension of the chain, the result being a concomitant lowering of the front portion of the panel element 3.

It is worth while noting that the tipping roller 10 located on either side of the self-acting panel 3 is loosely mounted on the driving shaft 18, so that it is coaxial to the driving pulley 19. In this case each panel element is substantially plane. The ramps 1 I extend beyond the adjacent transverse end 32 of the hatch while the rolling paths 7 extends somewhat into the stowage space 9 and have an end portion 7 which is bent downwards in the shape of a ramp (FIG. 1).

In the form of embodiment of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, the panel elements 33, 34, 35, closing the hatch 36 have a somewhat different structure, as shown in FIG. 7, which enables them to fit into one another in upstanding stowed position in the stowage space 37 where they are supported in inclined position simultaneously by the raised tipping ramps 38 through the medium of their tipping rollers 39 and by the lower rails 40 (joining the rolling paths 7 of the hatch edges) through the medium of their rear rolling wheels 41 (in the direction of the closing motion). Moreover, the chains or cables 42 interconnecting the panel elements are not, in this case, located laterally outside the panel elements but inside the latter. Also, there is provided an automatic system 43 for locking the transverse joints between the successive panel elements.

In the same manner as in the preceding example of embodiment the self-acting panel element 33 is provided on each side with a driving motor-reducer set 44 enclosed in a casing, but contrary to the preceding example it is provided with two, respectively front and rear pairs of wheels.

The driving chain 45, provided along each side of the hatch 36, is located in this case outwardly of the ramps 38 and extends substantially horizontally, for instance lower than the rolling path 46, and is attached at its ends to fixed points 47 and 48 which are located respectively at the remote end of the hatch and at about the outer end of the stowage space 37 and are substantially at the same level. Each driving shaft 49 carries a driving pulley 50 rigid with the shaft and meshing with the chain 45 as well as an idle tipping roller 39 coaxial with the said driving pulley. The oscillating lever of the preceding example has in this case substantially the shape of a triangular block 51 carrying at its lower angles or vertices respectively two guiding pulleys 52 placed respectively on either side of a transverse plane passing through the common axis of rotation 49 of the driving pulley 50 and the block 51, while the chain 45 passes over the guiding pulleys from the inside and the driving pulley from the outside by passing between the latter and each guiding pulley. Consequently each block 51 can freely oscillate under the action of the reactive forces exerted by the chain 45 during the displacement of the panel element 33.

The fixed attachment points 47 and 48 of each chain 45 are preferably adjustable to enable to vary the tension of the chain 45.

In the form of embodiment of FIGS. 8 to 18, the construction of the panel elements is generally similar to that of the preceding example, so that identical or similar parts are denoted by same reference numerals. The panel is composed in this case of five panel elements 53, 54, 55, 56 and 57 adapted to be lowered into sealing contact owing to the fact that their rolling wheels rest respectively upon retractable or concealable portions 62 of the rolling paths 46 actuated on each side for instance by means of a hydraulic actuating device 58 through the medium of a transmission linkage 39 which also controls the automatic locking of the panel element in lowered position by acting upon locking dogs or the like 60 which are laterally rigid with the panel elements.

The self-acting panel element 53 is provided in this case also on each side with a driving pulley 50 and a tipping roller 39 mounted coaxially on a corresponding driving shaft 49 driven by the associated motor-reducer set 44 supplied with energy by an electric cable 61 passing through the panel elements along the latter and connected to a junction box located in the stowage space 37. Each oscillating block 63 which also in this case is provided with two chain guiding pulleys 52, also carries a track roller 64 (FIGS. 16 and 18) coaxial with the guiding pulley 52 directed towards the outer end of the hatch. This track roller rolls over the rolling path 46 of the panel and serves to prevent counter-clockwise (in FIG. 8) rotation of the block under the action of the reactive force applied by the chain 45 during the opening motion of the panel. The self-acting panel element 54 is also provided with a stationary stop or the like 65 located above the arm of each oscillating block 63 directed towards the outer end of the hatch, that is towards the free end of the said self-acting panel element in its closed position. This stop serves to limit clockwise (in FIGS. 8, 14 and 15) rotation of the block under the action of the reactive force exerted by the chain 45 during the closing and lowering motion of the panel element. FIG. 14 shows in particular the angular position of the oscillating block 63 in the closed position of the panel element 54 when the latter is supported by its rolling wheels 41; the block is then spaced from the stop 65. FIG. 15 shows the angular position of the block after the panel element 54 (FIG. 8) has been lowered into sealing contact through retraction or concealment of the movable portion 62 of the rolling path placed under the wheels 41 (FIG. 8). It is seen that the oscillating block 63 has slightly rotated and has come into contact with the stationary stop 65.

Each motor-reducer set is advantageously controlled by automatic limit switches 66 placed in the casing containing the motor-reducer set. A gutter 67 advantageously extends below each chain 45 as shown more particularly in FIGS. 17 and 18.

In the form of embodiment of FIGS. 19 and 20, the panel serving to close the hatch 68, is composed for instance of four panel elements 69, 70, 71, 72 whose structure is approximately the same as that of the first form of embodiment. Each driving chain 73 extends in this case also inside the tipping ramps 11, but in this case it extends substantially in a parallel direction to the rolling paths 7 of the panel and substantially at the level of the latter.

The self-acting panel element 69 is provided on each side with an oscillating block 74 of substantially triangular shape pivotally mounted by its upper vertex on the driving shaft corresponding to the associated motor-reducer set, the said shaft carrying in this case only one driving pulley 75 meshing with the chain 73 while two chain guiding pulleys 76 are mounted respectively at the two ends or lower vertices of the block. This block also carries, respectively coaxially with its two guiding pulleys 76, two track rollers 77 which are in permanent rolling contact with the corresponding rolling path 7 of the panel. Each rolling path 7 is continued in the interior of the stowage space by an end portion 7". Thus, the self-acting panel element 69 is not provided with any tipping roller, but when it reaches the stowage space it swings about the driving shaft of its driving pulleys 75 and is supported by each block 74 resting upon the extension 7" of the rolling path 7. Each block 74 is therefore comparable to an actual carriage and practically does not oscillate about its pivot axis.

Each type of panel may readily be remote controlled by means of a push-button control box 78 placed at a distance. Electric limit switches 79, 80 are advantageously arranged at the opposite ends of at least one rolling path 7. The limit switch 79, which is placed at the end of the extension 7 of the rolling path 7 is advantageously actuated by a small ramp rigid with the end of the carriage 74 directed towards the stowage space, while the limit switch located at the opposite end may be directly actuated by the free front end of the self-acting panel element 69.

It will be noted that in all the alternative embodiments described hereinabove the oscillating blocks retain an at least approximately constant relative angular position in the space.

The form of embodiment of FIGS. 21 to 24 has for its purpose to simplify the structure of the preceding forms of embodiment by creating a system comprising a reduced number of component parts, notably movable component parts. T 0 this end, the said loose guiding pulley is directly mounted on the substantially horizontal rotary driving shaft of the said driving pulley by being preferably juxtaposed coaxially with the latter, while a loose intermediate or mule pulley is mounted on a pin or the like rigid with the same side of the said self-acting panel element and oblique in the plane substantially vertical or transverse parallel to the said driving shaft, at a given distance from the latter, so that the said chain passes around the said pulleys by describing a loop with crossed runs. passing first around the said driving pulley, and then around the said intermediate or mule pulley and thereafter around the said guiding pulley from underneath. This arrangement offers the advantage that, owing to the presence of the inclined loose intermediate or mule pulley, each runs of the chain remains in a plane substantially parallel to that of the considered or associated pulley, and this enables to prevent the chain from leaving or slipping off the pulleys and from becoming abnormally worn. In addition, this construction is relatively economical.

In FIGS. 21 to 24, the same reference numerals as in some of the preceding Figures have been used to denote portions identical with those of the latter Figures.

Thus, the self-acting panel element 53 is located here in the vicinity of the end of the hatch which is remote from the stowage space for the closing panel, i.e. in the vicinity .of the stationary fixing mechanism 47 of one end of the stationary chain 45 forming the aforesaid driving path. This self-acting panel element comprises, preferably on either longitudinal side, a driving pulley, for instance a chain-pulley 50, keyed on the driving shaft 49 of the associated driving motor-reducer set 44 incorporated in the panel element, which shaft issues laterally from the said panel element by extending transversely in protrusion above the corresponding coaming ledge 7. This driving pulley 50 is for instance adjacent or juxtaposed to the tipping roller 39 coaxially and loosely mounted on the driving shaft 49, for instance between the pulley 50 and the side of panel element 53. The driving shaft 49 is prolonged to extend beyond the driving pulley 50 by a protuberant shaft end on which is freely rotatably mounted a loose guiding pulley 101 forming a jockey pulley or the like substantially coaxial with the driving pulley 50 and for instance directly coupled to the latter.

At a certain distance from the driving shaft 49, for instance in the direction of the panel element end remote from the stowage space (not shown) and approximately at the same level as the shaft 49 is arranged an inclined loose intermediate or mule pulley 102 freely rotatably mounted on an oblique journal or the like 103 supported by a bracket or the like 104 laterally rigid with the panel element 53. This oblique journal 103 whose axis is located in a transverse vertical plane substantially parallel to the driving shaft 49 is inclined preferably upwardly from the bracket 104 or from the panel element 53 and its relative position is preferably such that the geometrical center of the intermediate pulley 102 is located at least approximately in the medial vertical longitudinal plane of the respectively driving 101 and guiding 101 pulleys 50 and 101, passing therebetween and substantially perpendicular to the driving shaft 49.

The two fixing or anchoring points of the opposite end of the chain 45, only one 47 of which is shown in FIG. 1, are placed approximately at the same level, so that each chain 45 extends generally substantially in parallel relationship with the coaming ledge 7 of the hatch 1, 36 constituting normally the rolling path of the various panel elements and preferably in the vicinity of the said coaming ledge. Starting from one end of the chain 45, in particular the end 47 remote from the stowage space, the chain passes successively first around the driving pulley 50 by embracing the latter externally from bottom to top, and then around the inclined loose intermediate or mule pulley 102 by embracing the latter from top to bottom, and the chain run, leaving the pulley 102 from the bottom, passes underneath the loose guiding pulley 101, so that the two respectively incoming and outgoing runs 45a and 45b intercross while remaining spaced from one another, the chain 45 thus forming a kind of a substantially closed loop by passing around the various aforesaid pulleys. Outside this loop,-the chain 45 rests in a supporting gutter 67 forming a trough or the like rigid with the coaming ledge 7 and extending along the hatch over the major part of the latter.

Of course, the invention is by no means limited to the forms of embodiment described and illustrated which have been given only by way of example. In particular, it comprises all the means constituting technical equivalents to the means described as well as their combinations, should the latter be carried out according to the spirit of the invention.-

What is claimed is:

l. A device for closing a ships hatch and like access aperture in a rolling vehicle, building and stationary construction, comprising at least one movable cover composed of several cover sections interconnected by ties and at least some of which are individually tiltable successively to a substantially upright position by means of lateral tipping rollers engaging corresponding stationary ramps for being stowed in close order in open position in a stowage space adjacent to one end of said hatch, that endmost cover section, which is remote from said stowage space, being automotive, said device comprising on at least one longitudinal side of the hatch, stationary chain means forming a driving track extending loosely along said hatch and stowage space and attached to a fixed point at each end thereof, said chain means cooperating engagingly with a driving pulley carried by a rotary drive shaft provided on said automotive cover section and with at least one loose guiding pulley supported by said rotary shaft, said chain means passing between the said driving pulley and each guiding pulley and embracing them at least partially whereas said automotive cover section is also tiltable to an upstanding position and is provided with a pair of tipping rollers arranged on either side of said cover section in substantially coaxial relationship with each driving pulley, said driving pulley and each one of said loose guiding pulleys are mounted in a common pivotable block carried by the rotary shaft of said driving pulley and adapted to rotate freely about the axis of the latter, said automotive cover section comprising two pairs of running wheels and each aforesaid block, forming a two-arm lever pivotally mounted at an intennediate point thereof, is provided with two guiding pulleys placed on arms of said lever, respectively, on either side of a transverse plane passing through the common axis of rotation of said lever and of the said driving pulley, the axes of the three pulleys lying at the vertices of a triangle, respectively.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said automotive cover section is provided with fixed stop means placed above that arm of each aforesaid block which is located towards the free end of the said automotive cover section in closed position thereof so as to limit the rotation of the said block in one direction during the closing and lowering motion of said cover and said arm is provided, in coaxial relation to its corresponding guiding pulley, with a track roller running over a stationary runway provided along said hatch in order to prevent the rotation of said block in the opposite direction during the opening motion of the said cover. 

1. A device for closing a ship''s hatch and like access aperture in a rolling vehicle, building and stationary construction, comprising at least one movable cover composed of several cover sections interconnected by ties and at least some of which are individually tiltable successively to a substantially upright position by means of lateral tipping rollers engaging corresponding stationary ramps for being stowed in close order in open position in a stowage space adjacent to one end of said hatch, that endmost cover section, which is remote from said stowage space, being automotive, said device comprising on at least one longitudinal side of the hatch, stationary chain means forming a driving track extending loosely along said hatch and stowage space and attached to a fixed point at each end thereof, said chain means cooperating engagingly with a driving pulley carried by a rotary drive shaft provided on said automotive cover section and with at least one loose guiding pulley supported by said rotary shaft, said chain means passing between the said driving pulley and each guiding pulley and embracing them at least partially, whereas said automotive cover section is also tiltable to an upstanding position and is provided with a pair of tipping rollers arranged on either side of said cover section in substantially coaxial relationship with each driving pulley, said driving pulley and each one of said loose guiding pulleys are mounted in a common pivotable block carried by the rotary shaft of said driving pulley and adapted to rotate freely about the axis of the latter, said automotive cover section comprising two pairs of running wheels and each aforesaid block, forming a twoarm lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate point thereof, is provided with two guiding pulleys placed on arms of said lever, respectively, on either side of a transverse plane passing through the common axis of rotation of said lever and of the said driving pulley, the axes of the three pulleys lying at the vertices of a triangle, respectively.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said automotive cover section is provided with fixed stop means placed above that arm of each aforesaid block which is located towards the free end of the said automotive cover section in closed position thereof so as to limit the rotation of the said block in one direction during the closing and lowering motion of said cover and said arm is provided, in coaxial relation to its corresponding guiding pulley, with a track roller running over a stationary runway provided along said hatch in order to prevent the rotation of said block in the opposite direction during the opening motion of the said cover. 